Adjustable spacing device for guard-rails.



No. 802,660. Y PATENTEDOGT. 24, 1905. v C. C. RUTTER. ADJUSTABLE SPAGING DEVlGE FR GUARD RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' PATENTBD UGT. 24, 1905.

C. G. RUTTER. ADJUSTABLE SPAGING DEVICE POR GUARD RMLS.

AFPLIOATION FILED PEB'. 23. 1905.

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CLEMENT C. BUTTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE SPACING DEVICE FOR GUARD-RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24:, 1905.

Application filed February 23, 1905. Serial No. 246,852.

T0 fir/ZZ wir/011i, t may concern.-

Beit known that I, CLEMENT C. BUTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Spacing Device for Guard-Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for adjustably spacing and inflexibly maintaining1 in adjustment miscellaneous rigid parts, and is particularly adapted for use in railway-work in which a guard is used. Its objects are, first, to provide an economical device thoroughly effective for its purpose and which entails no changes to the usual form of railway construction; second, to provide a device which is readily applicable, not liable to disarrangement, and in which subsequent changes inadjustment made desirable by reason of wear may be easily effected; third, to provide a device capable of withstanding the most severe usage without damage to itself; fourth, to provide a device that shall hold the parts to which it is connected with absolute security and, finally, to fulfil the most exacting' requirements; fifth, to provide a device which shall be operative in replacing spacing-blocks of another type in such manner that the guard-rail when worn may be brought into its original position with reference to the said running-rail. I attain these objects by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in Whieh- Figure l isa cross-section of frog construction. Fig. Q is a cross-section of cast T running' and guard rails. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of cast T running and rolled T guard rails. Fig. i is a cross-section of' rolled T- rails, ruiming' and guard, respectively. Fie. 5 is a cross-section of rolled T running-rail and special guard-section. Fig. 6 is a crosssection of rolled high T and rolled girder rails. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the distance-plate. Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. Q at rail-joint. Fig. 9 is a side view of the same. Fig'. lO is a plan view of Fig. 5, showing the running-rail with guard. Fig. l1 is a side view of the same. Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the running-rail block. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the guard-rail block. Fig. la is a perspective view of an alternative distance-plate.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In each figure of the drawings, A represents the tread or running rail, while B refers to the guard-rail, which may be of a similar crosssection or entirely different, as shown in Fig. l and Fig. 5. The distance between the head of the running-rail and its guard is necessarily variable, because of varying sizes of wheelfianges, and it is usually made greater on curves than on straight track; but in all cases this variable distance is definitely fixed and adhered to. Consequently when wear takes place between the two rails and the distance becomes greater than is admissible corrections must be made, bringing the rails to their original distance apart. Obviously the said rails must beheld with absolute security at all times. Hence rigid and non-yielding means of control must be used.

I obtain the desired features of adjustable spacing and secure maintenance of the parts in proper relation by means of removable distance-plates relatively thin, but sufficiently extended to afford firm bearing-surfaces, in conjunction with abutments for the bearingsurfaces of said plates and supports for the edges of said plates adapted to prevent displacement thereof. Means for removably securing the rails and plates together in the desired relation are of course provided. The abutments for the distance-plates may either be formed integrally with the rails themselves or may be in the form of separate pieces, the integral construction being especially convenient in such cast structures as frogs, although in some instances it may be employed for a rolled member.

Fig'. l is a representation of a cross-section of frog having cast sections on each side of the distance-plates, said sections being part of the cast rails brought up to form two guardsections and a section between the liners,which is one point of the frog,being the combination of both running-rails. The ruiming-rail member A in this instanceis an intermediate member between the two guard-rail members B B and is of symmetrical cross-section, havingI two extended fiat abutments a a with vertical faces and two horizontal shelf-like projections c c, forming supports for the distanceplates. These abutments are cast integrally with the running-rail member, and in the instance shown the supports are also integral with said member. Along the inner faces of the gu ard-rail members B B are cast integrally the extended flat abutments with vertical faces arranged opposite to the abutments a,

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and inasmuch as the supports C are mounted upon the rail member each of the guard members is recessed, as shown at (Z d, to permit' the approach of the parts. Between the proximate surfaces of these abutments, on each side, I insert a plurali-ty of long and relatively thin distance-plates F, whose vertical displacement is prevented by contact of their edges with the supports c. Said plates are provided with holes F to permit the passage of the clamping-bolts E, which of course have suitable heads and nuts. As above stated, the abutments in this instance are integral respectively with the runningrail member and the guard-rail members. In most cases, however, and especially when rolled members are employed, it is desirable to have one or both of the abutments in the form of separate pieces, and in the remaining instances shown in the drawings this method of construction is followed.

In the type shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6, both abutments are separate pieces and are conveniently made in the form of elongated blocks, as indicated at C D. The faces of the blocks adjacent to the respective rails are of proper configuration to fit snugly against the side of the rail, and the other faces are vertical, as shown at C and D'. (See Figs. 12 and 13.) One of the blocks is provided with a horizontal shelf-like support C2 at right angles to the face, the other block being preferably recessed on its under side, as shown at D2, to permit the support C2 to pass below it as the parts are adjusted toward one another. The distance-plates F are interposed between the abutments formed by the vertical faces of the block C D, said plates being maintained upon the shelf-like supports G2. The members are clamped together by means of bolts E.

Fig. 5 shows a combination of rolled T and guard rails in which it is necessary to use but one block only, as will be evident from inspection of the drawing. In this instance one abutment is constituted by the block C3, the other abutment being formed by the vertical flat face b2 of the peculiarly-shaped guardrail member B here employed. The support C", projecting from the block C3, here extends beneath the guard-rail itself, as well as under the distance-plates. The members are secured together, as before, by means of the bolts E.

The blocks C and D, which are fitted, respectively, to the running and guard rails, may be either planed from bar-steel or cast into desired shape,as may be most convenient. The distance-plates are preferably made of sheetsteel cut to the required width and sheared into sections convenient for use. In some cases they may be square plates, but in others, as at rail-joints, the said plates may be prolonged to a length equal to that of the fishplates used in connecting the rails.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the combination of blocks and distance-plates between them will resist any tendency of the rails to close up, while the bolt will be effective in overcoming separation. It is also equally evident that when suliicient wear shall have occurred as to render it desirable to closer adjust the said rails that a single distance-plate may be readily removed without disturbing the remainder. This is accomplished by a partial withdrawal of the clamp- I bolt, after which it may be again tightened,

drawing the rails together an amount equall to the thickness of the distance-plate removed. Such change in the movement of the-guardrail in drawing it closer to the running-rail will of course necessitate a change in the location of the spikes; but such changes are equally necessary in any movement of the worn rail. When the distance-plates have been removed, the bolt may be tightened up without further use of these plates; but I prefer that the original position of the bolt be held by placing said plates between the nutlock on the bolt and the outer face of the said rails. Care should be taken when removing plates to provide proper planing on the bases of said rails, so that the rails may be brought together at the proper distance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of the class described, the combination with a running-rail and a guard-rail, of a block fitted to the said running-rail, of a block fitted to the said guard-rail, of a plurality of distance-plates interposed between the said blocks, and a clamp-bolt passing through the said running-rail, guard-rail, blocks and distance-plates, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a'running-rail and a guard-rail, of a block fitted to the said running-rail, having an inner face parallel to the vertical plane thereof, of a block fitted to the said guardrail, having an inner face parallel to the vertical plane thereof, of a plurality of distanceplates interposed between the said blocks, and a clamp-bolt passing thro ugh the said runningrail, guard-rail, blocks and distance-plates, all substantially as shown and described.

3. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a running-rail and a guard-rail, of a block fitted to the said running-rail, having an inner face parallel to the vertical plane thereof and an inwardly-extending shelf-like projection, of a block fitted to the said guardrail, having an inner face parallel to the vertical plane thereof, and a recessed base, of a plurality of distance-plates interposed between the said blocks and a clamp-bolt passing through the said running-rail, guard-rail, blocks and distance-plates, all substantially as shown and described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a running member and a guard member; of a plurality of interposed fiat dislOO ros

port for said distance -plates arranged in a plane above the base of the rail; and, a hori- I5 zontal bolt extending1 through said plates for securing the same in position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- 2O seribing Witnesses.

CLEMENT C. BUTTER.

Witnesses:

LOUIS VON GRAEVE, ROBERT K. PERKINS. 

